READING IS FUNDAMENTAL!

       WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2023

      READING IS FUNDAMENTAL!

    November 8th kicks off a very important

week in the world of literature! There's

nothing like sitting back and taking in a good

book. I realize it's easy to enjoy a story on TV

or taking in a great motion picture. But there's

something very satisfying in allowing your

mind to paint the pictures as you did into a

great novel. Like the one I'm reading right

now. It's filled with excitement, adventure,

and some very colorful characters. It's called

"The Little Engine That Could." Oh, did I mention

this is "Children's Book Week?" But, you know,

there are some reall great stories written with

kids in mind. I'm still wondering if this little

engine will be able to pull those cars filled

with toy sna dgood things to eat over the

mountain! I think he can. I think he can!

Hope he does, and that all your NEWS is

good!

TIME TO LOAD UP!

 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2023

            TIME TO LOAD UP! 

   In this case my title has nothing to

do with putting gas in your car! It's

November 7th and this is "Fill your

stapler day!" The stapler is a great

invention widely used in offices,

schools, and even in the home. We

have the stapler thanks to King Louis XV

who wanted a better way to hold papers

together. You'd like the original stapler

better than today's models!  True, it only

held one staple at a time. BUT, they were

made of GOLD!!!!! Hope your stapler is

filled and that all your NEWS is good!

INTO THE WOODS!

   MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6th, 2023

           INTO THE WOODS!

   You know I love to tell you about those

unusual holidays I find throughout the year.

Most are just fun. But, every now and then

there's one than can be useful. That's the case

today! It's "Marooned Without A Compass

Day!" I walked into the woods near my house

and imagined I was there without a compass

trying to find my way out. My first thought 

was to find moss at the base of a tree, Moss

always grows on the North side so once I

found the moss I could figure out my 

directions. One problem. No moss!!! Then

I realized the sun comes up in the east in the

morning and sets in the west at night. Just

check the position of the sun and, again, I'd

know which way was which. But wait! I

didn't know what time it was. Could have

been Noon for all I knew with the sun right

over head. Next time I'll drop breadcrumbs!

And, bring a phone! Hope I find my way

out and that all your NEWS is good!

c

HEY KIDS! WHAT TIME IS IT?

 

     SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5TH., 2023
                RIGHT ON TIME!

         Well here we are. It's the first full
day of Eastern Standard Time (if you
live here in Pennsylvania) and all of our
clocks are set to the right time. Well
pretty close anyway. One of our clocks
is set about 5 minutes fast to........well....
I'm really not sure exactly why. But I
think there once was a good reason.
            My wife set the clock in her
car. It's the easiest one we've ever had
with an hour and minute button you
can actually set with your finger.
             The "main clock", the one in
our kitchen has to be turned manually.
If you follow the rules you're suppose
to turn it ahead 23 hours to the proper
EST. Hopefully this isn't a law because
if it is I'm going to jail. I defy the rule
and turn it back one hour.
              The VCR or DVR or whatever
you call them set themselves these days.
The signal actually is transmitted to the
units through your cable or satellite
signal.
              Unfortunately I've got one
VCR that isn't connected to cable or
satellite and it's time reading is always
incorrect. I have corrected the problem
with a piece of black electrician's tape
which now covers the reading.
              It's times like these I really
appreciate my Miata. It doesn't
have a clock!
            Hope you're right on time
and that all your NEWS is good!

CURSE OF THE BOY KING!

          SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

           CURSE OF THE BOY KING!      

      I know we're just past Halloween, but

today marks the anniversary of a Halloween-

like story that lingers on. It's the Curse of King

Tut! It was on November 4th of 1922 that a

team of archaeologists lead by Howard Carter

discovered the tomb of Egypt's "Boy King,"

Tutankhamen. There was a belief that those

who dared defile a pharaoh's grave would 

die for their actions. In fact the man who

financed the expedition and was there

with Carter for the discovery, Lord Carnarvon,

was dead within two months from an insect

bite that became infected. He died from blood

poisoning! So did his half brother who was

also a member of the team. Another member

died from some mysterious illness as well!

But Carter himself lived on and died at age 64

suggesting that all curses have their "limit!" 

Just ask the Boston Red Sox! Hope you're

well and that all your NEWS is good

A LUNCH TIME HERO!

   FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2023

         A  LUNCH TIME HERO!

   Today is John Montagu's Birthday! The

name might not mean anything to you

immediately. After all he was born way

back in 1718. But John was very well

know during his lifetime! And he was

primarily know as a gambler! A very

serious gambler! So much so that he

didn't want to leave the gambling table

once he was seated. During one very

serious game he was faced with the

choice of leaving for lunch or going

hungry while he remained and played.

But John had an idea of his own. He 

asked someone to bring him a loaf of

bread and some meat. He sliced to pieces

of the bread and put the meat in between

the two slices. Hence was born what was to

become a very popular menu item. Created

by John Montagu, an Englishman who held

the title "The 4th Earl of Sandwich!" For

whom the sandwich was named! Hope you

enjoy one from time to time and that all

your NEWS is good!

    e  

A FINE FEATHERED FRIEND or FEAST?

    THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023

A FINE FEATHERED FRIEND or FEAST?

    I just discovered that November is "Adopt

a Turkey Month!" It actually spans November

and December. It seems there's an

organization called Farm Sanctuary that is

encouraging people to "rescue" turkeys

rather than eating them. I've heard of

rescue agencies before but they usually

involve efforts to save abused or

abandoned cats or dogs. This one

encourages people to rescue or adopt

turkeys. I've seen rescued dogs in

homes of out for a walk with their

new owners. I must admit I've never

seen anyone walking with a turkey on

a leash. I guess I can understand

the sympathy some may have for

a bird headed for Thanksgiving

dinner. But I must admit I look

forward to having a turkey on our

holiday menu. So, thanks to my

wife, we have a turkey in our yard.

It's not real but we like having it

there. This way we can have our

turkey and eat it too! You'll have 

to decide for yourself. Hope all

your NEWS is good!